New Delhi: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has broken records in Mexico, with over 35 million Mexicans tuning in to watch their team defeat Ecuador 2-0 in their Round of 32 fixture on 1 July. The Mexican team is set to face England on Monday in the Round of 16.
“Mexico has now broken its own FIFA World Cup 2026 TV audience record three times in this tournament – their match against Ecuador was the most-watched fixture in the 21st century in Mexico and delivered an all-time record combined audience for a football match in the US!” FIFA said in a statement on X.
The Mexico versus Ecuador fixture saw an average of 19 million viewers tune in on Televisa, while around 16.1 million people watched the match on TV Azteca. Around 29.3 million people from the US tuned into the game, leading to more than 50 million viewers across the two countries — a record in North America.
Breaking the four-decade curse
El Tri have not only entered the Round of 16, but for the first time in four decades, it has won a knockout game at the World Cup, breaking the famous curse of the men’s national team. In previous editions of the FIFA World Cup, a victory at the first knockout game would allow a team to proceed to the quarter-finals.
The Mexican national team’s highest place finish at the World Cup is the two quarter finals it reached in the 1970 and 1986 editions of the tournament. In 1986, the tournament was hosted in Mexico.
However, since then, El Tri have qualified from the Group Stage in seven editions — 1994 to 2018 — but have always been knocked out at the Round of 16. This year, however, the knockout stages started from the Round of 32 due to the expanded tournament with 48 teams.
Currently, Mexico is on a four-match unbeaten streak at the tournament, securing nine points during the group stage matches, before the game against Ecuador earlier this week. Notably, Mexico hasn’t conceded a goal in this World Cup.
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Mexico up for next challenge
Mexico started the tournament with a 2-0 victory over South Africa, before defeating one of the pre-tournament favourites South Korea 1-0 and then beating Czechia 3-0 in its final group game.
The tournament has been a breakout for left-winger Julián Quiñones, the 29-year-old winger, who plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Qadsiah, has been in form on the left wing. He has scored three goals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the tournament opener against South Africa, a goal against Czechia and also against Ecuador in the Round of 32.
The Colombian-born player made his debut for Tigres-UANL a decade ago and remained in Mexico until 2024 before moving to Saudi Arabia. He has scored 62 goals in 68 games during his time in Saudi Arabia so far, and has brought his rich vein of form to the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel’s England is considered to be one of the strongest teams in this tournament, with captain Harry Kane leading from the front. For the Three Lions, Quiñones will remain a threat, along with Raul Jimenez, the striker who has proven himself at English clubs.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)